Jiri, Dudh Kunda & Phaplu Trek - 17 Days

Jiri Dudh Kunda trek is a newly crafted adventure package that is gradually catching up its popularity. On this trip, you get the opportunity to behold the captivating beauty of Jiri, often referred as the "Switzerland of Nepal". Towering mountains like Numbur Himal, Gauri Shanker, Mera Peak and Dudh Kunda Peak will be intermittently greeting you as you saunter along the new trails. You are certain to be thrilled as you make a challenging ascent to the Dudh Kunda Base Camp, at a staggering 5756m. Take a holy dip on the Dudh Kunda Lake (literally means, "milk pond") and feel blessed! Exploring the Thupthencholing Gompa, made by the Tibetan icon, Dalai Lama gives you an insight on Tibetan Buddhism. Eventually, we wrap up our trek on a good note at Phaplu, having a peppy celebration with our crew members and sampling some of the most exquisite apple-based products The Jiri Dudh Kunda & Phaplu Trek is an adventure and pilgrimage combined together!

Important Snippets

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative from Marron Treks will receive and transfer you to your hotel. After you are greeted with welcome drinks at the hotel, we will have a quick pre-trip meeting to discuss on the necessary formalities and trekking itinerary. You can then check in to your room, freshen up and rest. If this is your first time to Kathmandu, take a stroll around the vicinity of your hotel and get the feel of this vibrant energetic capital city of Nepal. Witness the rush, the hullabaloo and charisma of this city. You have an entire day tomorrow to explore the Kathmandu valley. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

Short stroll in the evening yesterday might not have acquainted you to Kathmandu. So we want to make sure that you know this city like you know yourself. Once done with your breakfast, let’s hop in to our reserved vehicle and then head on for a comfy ride with one of our experienced city guides. You will be visiting the most renowned historical/cultural landmarks in Kathmandu. Our guide will take you to the Pashupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Swayambunath (the Monkey Temple) and Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square. All these sites are enlisted in the UNESCO world’s heritage list. After this informative and interesting tour, we drive back through the busy and noisy streets of Kathmandu to the serene premises of your hotel. The best use of the remaining time can be made by shopping the trekking goodies. Most of the items are available on rent and our guide will help you identify the best renting outlet. So, after you have hoarded all the handy gears for your trek, get back to the hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Jiri (1951m/6 - 7hours)

After a succulent breakfast at the hotel, you will be accompanied by our guide on a drive to Jiri. Our vehicle maneuvers through the busy and noisy streets of Kathmandu, past the Newar dominated towns of Banepa and Bhaktapur. The driving route follows the Bhote Koshi River all the way up to a Tamang village. From here, we drive alongside the Tama Koshi River until we finally arrive at Jiri. Owing to its splendid natural beauty, Jiri is often given the nomenclature of "Switzerland of Nepal" and is gradually becoming the start off point for most of the treks on the Everest region. Overnight at teahouse in Jiri; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 04: Trek from Jiri to Shivalaya (1790m/ 4-5 hrs)

Our trek commences today from Jiri. After an early morning breakfast, we will be heading towards Shivalaya. The route is flat and gradual. We halt for lunch at Mali Danda and resume our trek, walking on a downhill route. The trail now stretches through the forest until we finally arrive at the village of Shivalaya. Shivalaya gets its name from the temple of the Supreme Hindu God, “Lord Shiva”, located by a riverside. The residents here comprise of the ethnic mix of Gurungs, Sherpas, Brahmins, Magars etc. Overnight at a tented camp in Shivalaya; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

How was the first night in the tents? We bet, it was a new experience, if not the best! You better get used to it because the canopy and walls of cloth sheets is going to be our home for next couple of weeks. Our route today passes through the Shivalaya Police Checkpoint. The tail to Bhandar is marginally steep, and most part of it is embellished with rhododendron clusters. Surmounting the climbs and simultaneously enjoying the rhododendrons, we arrive at Deurali (2387m) which offers a splendid view of Pike peak. The local inhabitants of Deurali are mainly Sherpas and Tamangs. Our trail now goes down until we arrive at the settlement of Bhandar. Overnight at tent in Bhandar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

From Bhandar, we descend on a downhill route through dense forests, cross few streams and then pass by the small settlements of Dokharpa and Baranda. From here, the route climbs through the forests and winds down to the Surma River. We continue trailing through the Likhu River valley. After about 3 hours of walk, we arrive at village of Kinja village (1624m), where we halt for lunch. This village happens to be the business hub for Ramechap and Solukhumbu districts. Our trek now resumes along an uphill route, until we eventually arrive at the settlement of Sete. Overnight at tent in Sete; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We grab our breakfast and then resume our footy mission, walking up through the jungle. Most part of this walk is through the forest. We arrive at Lamjura Danda and halt for lunch. We have a pass ahead, so after some good energizing lunch, we begin to trudge up the steep route until we get to the top of the Lamjura La Pass (3532m). From atop, enjoy the splendid views of the peaks like Gauri Shankar, Dudh Kunda, Mera Peak etc. including the flowery vista of the flashy rhododendrons. After this scenic retreat, we descend from the pass to the Sherpa and Newar dominated village of Junbesi. Overnight at tent in Junbesi; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 08: Trek from Junbesi to Ringmu (2720m/4 - 5hours)

The trail from Junbesi to Ringmu is seemingly flat. These two places are marginally different in terms of the altitude. Following our guide, we embark along the easy and pleasant trail to Ringmu. On the way we can visit the local paper making factory and the view of Tashi Kongma Stupa, the largest in Solukhumu, is simply awesome. Overnight at a tent in Ringmu; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 09: Trek from Ringmu to Saharbeni (3835m/ 4-5 hrs)

You must be a bit jaded due to the incessant walking for almost a week now. Today’s walk would be the last one before we have a well deserved rest day. From Ringmu, we gradually begin to gain altitude. Our route today is uphill most of the times and we frequently have to trek through the jungle, until we arrive at the settlement of Saharbeni. We are now at the threshold of the climax of this trek. Our next destination from Saharbeni would be “the Dudh Kunda Base Camp (5756m)”. Overnight at tent in Saharbeni; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10: Rest cum acclimatization day at Saharbeni

We can pamper ourselves a bit today and wake up late as its not one of those regular trekking days. So, after we launch on our late breakfast, we can gradually march to explore the vicinity of Saharbeni. Our next day’s trek takes us to the soaring altitude of the Dudh Kunda Base Camp, well over 5000 meters. Hence, the walk around Saharbeni is very important in the sense that it helps us to get acclimatized to the thinning air. After the acclimatizing stroll, we get back to our grassy campsite. Overnight at tent in Saharbeni; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Trek from Saharbeni to Dudh Kunda Base Camp (5756m) and back to Saharbeni (3835m/ 5-6 hours)

That rest day at Saharbeni has indeed prepared us for today’s tough venture. We get going along the steep route to the Dudh Kunda Base Camp. On reaching the base camp, we pay a visit to the Dudh Kunda Lake, which literally means the milk pond. The lake is perched right at the bottom of Numbur Himal, locally known as Shorong Yul Lha, which in the local dialect means the “custodian of Solu Lake”. Hence, both, the mountain as well as the lake have a great religious significance. Huge numbers of Hindu devotees visit the lake to take a holy dip every year. From the base camp, we can relish the views of Dudh Kunda Peak, Numbur I & II, as well as Mera Peak. We then trek back to Saharbeni. Today’s journey has been the combination of trek and pilgrimage. Overnight at tent in Saharbeni; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 12: Trek from Saharbeni to Chauri Kharka (3020m/4 - 5hours)

We have eventually made it to the climax of the trek and we are now almost at the verge of wrapping up things. From Saharbeni, our route descends through the jungle. Most often than not, we follow the downhill route until we get to the grassland of Chauri Kharka. The word “Chauri” literally connotes “Yak” and Kharka means “shed”. Chauri Kharka is actually a temporary shed for the Yaks. The herders bring the cattle here during the winters in order to escape the excruciating chill of the mountains. Overnight at tent on a grassy campsite at Chauri Kharka; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 13: Trek from Chauri Kharka to Beni (2484m/5 - 6hours)

Our route today is very akin to what we walked on yesterday. We trek mostly along the downhill route, through the forests, all the way till we arrive at the tiny settlement of Beni. Overnight at tent in Beni; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We are almost at the verge of wrapping up this trip now. Before we proceed to Phaplu, we have an interesting excursion lined up for us. After a quick early morning breakfast, we head on for a short hike to the “Thupthencholing Gompa (3048m)”, an interesting monastery made by the renowned Buddhist spiritual leader- Dalai Lama. Nearly 900-1200 Buddhist students learn Tibetan Buddhism here. After the brief visit, we walk along the flat route, all the way to Phaplu. This town is famous for apples and apple based products, like ciders, apple pie etc. We can sample some of them tonight and in fact have a small celebration with our crew members. The world has gotten too small to say that we won’t be seeing each other again but, a celebration would be a good way to express our gratitude towards our crew for their support and amiable company. Overnight at teahouse in Phaplu; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 15: Flight from Phaplu to Kathmandu (1400m/30 min)

After that celebratory and memorable night at Phaplu, it’s now time to catch our flight to Kathmandu. In about 30 minutes, our flight touches down the domestic wing of Kathmandu airport. A representative from Marron Treks will receive and transfer you to your designated hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 16: A free day in Kathmandu

This is a free day in Kathmandu to fulfill anything that you missed out spotting in this energetic capital of Nepal. You can indulge yourself in shopping or strolling around some of the cultural and historical landmarks of Kathmandu. Thamel is your hot spot for shopping where you can haul all the souvenirs representing Nepal and its culture. May be that in addition to your interesting trip anecdotes, you would also want to take back some stuff for your friends and relatives. In the evening, a farewell dinner with a range of traditional Nepali cuisines, will be hosted by Marron Treks. Enjoy the dinner, pack/prepare yourself for a flight back home and have a beauty sleep. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.

Day 17: Final departure to your homeland

Unless you want to extend your trip to try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc., this would be your last day in Nepal. A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport, three hours prior to your flight schedule. Have a safe flight back home and we look forward to being your adventure companion in Nepal again!

Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Important Snippets

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

During the trek, you will be accommodated in a Tea House/ Lodge or Trekking Inn. Most of these lodges and teahouses cater good services and are equipped with modern amenities. We will endeavor to provide you the best accommodation available along the route so that you get a good night’s rest in a hygienic milieu.

Meals

We never compromise with the quality of food and the health of the trekkers as well as the crew members. Generally, we opt for the fresh and nutritional local community food available in the Everest Region You could make your delicious pick from an array of traditional food like Sweet Potato, Buck Wheat Barley etc. This way, you could not only get the real sense of the local culture and life patterns but also contribute to promoting the locally available resources of organic food and beverages. Besides, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads, Masala Curry etc. are also available in the restaurants for your retreat.

Porter and Staff Care

When it comes to high altitude trekking, porters and staff members make up a pivot. Marron Treks ensures that all the porters and staff members going to high altitude conditions, are provided with adequate clothing and equipments.

Best Months

January-June & September-December are considered to be the best months for Jiri - Dudhkunda & Phaplu Trek

Any Experience Required?

For Jiri - Dudhkunda Trek we dont need to have any earlier experience. Any adventure enthusiast, with a generic physical aptitude can definitely relish the thrill of this trek.

Our Guides

Guides play a significant role during the trek. They are the ones who literally decipher the trekking codes for you so that you could actually connect with the nature, culture and people along the way. We have helpful and dedicated trekking guides, who are fairly literate, multilingual speakers and are very well versed to the culture, life patterns and every single detail pertaining to the Everest region. Thus, in the company of our professional Sherpa guides, your trek becomes not only entertaining, but also equally informative.

Travel Insurance

It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both- medical as well as evacuation costs. Having a travel insurance with you, makes your trip secure and hassle free.

Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days costs US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days costs US $40 and $ 100 respectively. You will need a valid passport and 2 copies of your recent PP sized photos).

Cost incurred due to the addition of extra days or change in the real course of the itinerary because of bad weather conditions, political turmoil or any other unforeseen contingencies like (but not limited to) natural calamities, accidents, illness, thefts, damages etc.

Garbage deposit fees (refundable).

Any other expenses not mentioned in the 'Cost Includes' section above.

TREKKING GEARS & EQUIPMENTS

Needless to say that kitting and stuffing yourself out for a trek is almost a herculean task which keeps you mulling and often gets you overwhelmed. But at the mercy of the renting outlets sprouting in every visible corner in Kathmandu, preparing for trekking in Nepal these days is almost tantamount to equipping yourself for a weekend backpacking trip. Most of the heavy and expensive items are easily available on rent, so you don’t actually have to travel Nepal with a cartload of gears. We have endeavored to formulate a categorical checklist that gives you a tentative idea regarding the gears and accessories mandatory for you during the trek. The list could vary depending upon the kind of trek you pursue, the terrain, weather conditions and time of the year. For instance, you don’t need the camp-trek equipments when you are on a tea-house trek. This listing below simply serves as a guideline and you can always have your own checklist. It is always preferable to pack light and the key to this is to carry the gears and accessories that have multidimensional uses.

CLOTHING (Core & Lower body)

Water-proof (breathable fabric) jacket, Poncho or Umbrella

Hard shell pants (breathable fabric- 1 set), preferably that zips from top and bottom which can be worn over boots without getting undressed, in case of abrupt weather changes

Duffle bag (will be provided by Marron Treks as a complimentary gear and you needn't return it )

Pack cover (to protect your gears from getting wet)

Day sack/Nylon stuff sack

Sleeping Bag/ Silk liner (will be provided by Marron Treks but

should be returned after the trip)

Water bottle

Good head torch along with spare batteries and bulbs

Maps, compass and a guide book

Trekking poles

Miscellaneous Bits

The items below could seem trivial, but if you don’t have them, you might just find

yourself sticky and stinky, which isn’t actually good for you!

Toiletries

Quick-drying camp towel

Detergent powder/bar

Toilet paper

Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 20+) & Lip balm

Pocket knife

Sewing/Repair Kit (for tent & mattress)

Emergency kit including a whistle, waterproof match/lighter

Padlocks for bags and lodge rooms

Stuff sacks

Earplugs

Candlesticks

Medicaments

It is important that you can include the medicines prescribed by your doctor. Below is just the generic list of medications. We advice you to always consult your travel doctor as you might be resistant or allergic to some medicines

Anesthetics (Ibuprofen/Aspirin)

Broad spectrum antibiotics tablets

Metronidazole and Antacids (for diarrohea /indigestion)

Broad spectrum ointments (Neosporin/ Clotrimazole/Gentamicin)

Antiseptic liquids (Dettol/Savlon)

Assorted band-aids

Small gauge pad

Roll of adhesive tape

Iodine tablets

Optional Carry

Nothing hard and fast about carrying the items in this list as they are not the basics. Yet, though not all, if you still manage to squeeze in some of these items on your carry, you will not regret as they might just come handy during the trek

Camera, memory card and battery charger

GPS unit Altimeters

Binoculars

Pee bottle for men (leak proof/wide mouth) & Pee funnel for women

Books and magazines

Departure Date

Marron Treks has calibrated fixed departure dates for all the trek packages. We operate group as well as individual/private treks. Please pick the most palpable date for you and book your trip now. If the dates below don’t fit your schedule, kindly contact us directly and let us know about your preference.

Trip Facts

Starting Price: USD XXXX (On request)

Group Size: 02 – 12 Pax

Trip Grade: Moderate

Accommodation: Camping

Transportation: Private Car/Jeep & Flight

Highest Elevation: Dudh Kunda Base Camp (5756m)

Lowest Elevation: Kathmandu(1400m)

Average Walking Hours per Day: 5 Hours

Trek Commences From: Jiri (1951m)

Trek Terminates At: Phaplu (2469m)

Best Months: Jan-Jun & Sep-Dec

Trip Highlights

A guided tour throughout Kathmandu city with an amiable and experienced city guide, visiting the most renowned historical and cultural landmarks herein